The Crime: On Thanksgiving night, November 25, 2004, a group of seven young people met at the Icon Night Club on North Academy Blvd about 9:00 PM. Two sisters with this group interacted with other males in the bar and there may have been a verbal confrontation between them and the original group of friends. About 2:00 AM the seven friends departed in three cars and drove as a group to the Denny’s parking lot at Academy and Flintridge, with the two sisters together in one car. The women reported that at a stoplight near Flintridge Dr, an SUV described as a dark colored Ford Explorer or Expedition pulled up beside them, and that two African American male occupants were trying to “hit on them.” The women stated they rebuffed the advances and continued to the south end of the Denny’s parking lot where they met with the rest of their group. A few minutes later, the same SUV that had contacted the women pulled into the Denny’s lot near the group of friends. A verbal altercation between the two groups of people ensued, during which shots were fired from the SUV, and may have also been fired from individual(s) in the parking lot as the suspect vehicle fled the area. Brandon Browne, age 23, was struck by one of the gunshots while standing in the parking lot and died as a result of this injury. He had been part of the original group of friends from the Icon and did not appear to have been involved in the described altercation.

The Investigation: Numerous witnesses were interviewed and forensic evidence collected from the crime scene. To date, neither the suspect SUV nor its occupants have been positively identified, although it appears likely the SUV had also been at the Icon nightclub at the same time as the victim and his friends. The case remains open at this time.

The Colorado Springs Police Department Homicide Cold Case Unit is currently responsible for approximately 90 unsolved homicide cases dating back to 1949. CSPD considers a case to be cold if it remains unsolved for more than one year.

If you have any information that would be of assistance in this or any of our